CARLO MOLLINO (ITALIAN 1905-1973)
UNTITLED
unique polaroid print
10.5cm x 8.2cm (4 1/8in x 3 1/4in)
Galleria Cristiani, Turin;Private Collection, London.
CARLO MOLLINO (1905-1973): Message from the Dark Room‘Inspiration is not prompted; it springs forth from a state of grace’ (Carlo Mollino) Carlo Mollino’s relationship with photography spanned a lifetime and encompassed everything he did. Whether working as an architect or artist he saw photography as an essential modern tool for creativity and expression. Through working with other photographers, retouching images and producing photomontages Mollino constantly refined his ideas to push the boundaries of this evolving art form. In 1949 he captured his knowledge within a book dedicated to the subject. Il Messaggio dalla Camera Oscura (Message from the Darkroom) quickly became a leading text and allowed readers insight into the dark room of Mollino’s mind.  The two Untitled Polaroid photographs featured here relate to an exciting period of productivity between 1962 and 1973. Mollino was initially drawn to the immediacy and mellow characteristics of Polaroid film but also saw qualities in the thick rectangular cardboard upon which the images were produced. His devotion to this medium is evident through his prolific productivity across this ten-year period where he produced over one thousand Polaroids. He went on to overpaint some of these images using a very fine brush to achieve an effect comparable to medieval miniaturists. Drawn to the long artistic tradition of the nude and influenced by the qualities of Polaroid film Mollino’s work began to take on a more genuine and realistic appearance. This can be seen within the two Untitled works where the women are pictured as wives and girlfriends, rich in character and individuality. At the same time the physical settings and backgrounds have become minimal and anonymous ensuring focus remains firmly on the subjects. It has been argued that many of Mollino’s Polaroids hold autobiographical references. Perhaps they represent his quest for a partner or perhaps they seek more holistic answers to the complexities of eroticism and sexuality.